Just Deserts

Two desserts in one week, you say! What’s Fresh Parm coming to? Well, for whatever reason, I’ve been battling a major sweet tooth lately (personally, I blame the Girl Scouts and their sinister wares). And after the laborious creation of last weekend’s carrot cake, I was in the mood for a sweet treat that wouldn’t compromise my remaining healthy fingertips.

Behold one of the easiest, most sinfully yummy deserts out there—my friend Mary’s faux cobbler. There’s nothing fresh, wholesome or natural about this one guys, and I simply couldn’t care less. It became a college dinner party staple amongst my circle of girlfriends and I’ve passed it on to others several times over the years, always to rave reviews. I’m sure you can do a dozen different variations of this (canned cherries, frozen pineapple, etc.), but the original is the one most near and dear to my heart. Thanks Mary!

Mary’s Faux Cobbler
Serves 4

butter-flavored cooking spray
2, 12 oz. bags frozen mixed berries
21 oz. can apple pie filling
4 tbsp. sugar
1 box yellow cake mix
¼ c. (half a stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
vanilla ice cream for serving

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 9-inch square baking pan, coat the bottom with the cooking spray. Pour both bags of berries and the apple pie filling into the pan and mix to combine. Sprinkle with the sugar and then the cake mix (you may not need the whole box of mix, so just use what’s appropriate to have an even coating over the fruit). Drop pieces of butter over the top of the mix.

Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes. Uncover and continue baking 10-15 minutes more, or until top is browned and fruit is bubbling at the sides. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving with vanilla ice cream.